Machine for cutting and folding tags, labels, or hangers



April 1929. s. E. BAILEY 1,709,108

MACHINE FOR CUT'1ING AND FOLDING TAGS, LABELS, OR HANGER S Filed Aug. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1929. s. E. BAILEY 1,709,108

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND FOLDING TAGS, LABELS, 0R HANGERS Filed Aug. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 16, 19 29. V

UNITED STATE PATENT OFF-ICE.

SILAS E. BAILEY, OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELMIRA KNITTING MILLS, OF ELMIBA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND FOLDING TAGS, LABELS, OR HANGERS.

Application filed August 16, 1927.

This invention relates to machines for cutting and folding tags, labels and hangers,

and more particularly to the type which cuts these from tapes or ribbons which have been previously made up, with the tags, labels or hangers, hereafter referred to as tags, in

a continuous strip.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this character for severing the tags from the strip, tape or ribbon, hereafter referred to as tape, and folding and pressing the severed and unsevered ends or sides of the tags, all in one operation.

Another object of the invention is to make a machine by which it is possible Without change of adjustment to cut and fold tags of different widths and different lengths.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of this character by means of which tags of any desireddimension may be out and folded.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide a machine of this character, all of the parts of which are operated from a single shaft. l

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a single cam device for operating all of the mechanism of themach ne.

Still another detailed object of the invention is to provide a novel drive clutch for the machine.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the. accompanying drawings as the following description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my new machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 .is atransverse vertical section takeiialong the line 38 of Fig. 2; r

Figure 4 is another vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and showing the driving clutch;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a cross section through the head of the machine taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of the sliding member carrying the folding l Figure 9 is a perspective- View of the slid- Serial No. 213,397.

ing element carrying the knife for severing the label;

Figure 10 is a perspectiveview of a tag in which the printing or design is lengthwise of the tape, after'being cut and folded by my machine; and

Figure 11 is a similar view of a tag in which the printing or design is crosswise of the tape.

The machine in which my invention is embodied is designed for the cutting and folding of tags of all kinds, especially fabric. The stock from which the machine cuts the tags consists of either a plain tape, or one on which a lettering or. design constituting the tag is printed or woven. In order to apply the tags to manufactured articles, it is necessary to sever the tags one by one from the continuous tape and, also, to fold over the cut edges so that the tags can be sewed down at each fold, thereby leaving no raw edge to be unsightly or unravel.

Heretofore, this process has been carried out by hand, or by faulty devices for performing certain of the steps. It is, therefore, the principal aim of my invention to provide a machine which will perform this entire process in one operation. However, I find that many advantages accrue from a rearrangement of the steps, and hence the improvement of theprocess itself is another aim of the invention. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings for a detailed description of one embodiment of my invention, the machine as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a fairly heavy rectangular base 10, which may be cast or formed of sheet metal or other mate rial as desired. Extending upwardly at substantially the center of the base 10 is a bent arm 11, which extends forward to the front of the machine and terminates in. an overhanging head 12, in which is mounted the mechanism for operating the moving knife 13 and the folding plates 14 and 15.

At the front of the machine, below the head 12 is mounted a transverse guide member 16 on which the stationary knife 17 is fixed, and on which at either side thereof the presser blocks 18 and 19 are slidably mounted.

Upwardly extending lugs 22 and 23 are mounted on each side of the base atthe rear of the machine, and are provided with bearings 24 and which journal the single drive shaft 26. A clutch indicated generally at 'serves to transmit the power to the shaft from a free pulley 31, which is continuously rota-ted from some external source of power.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the construction of the knife blade and folding plate operating mechanism will first be described in detail. The transverse guide member 16, previously referred to, is secured to the base 10 by machine screws 3 A block is adjustably secured in fixed po sition thereon by a set screw 36.

The head 12 is formed .with a vertical rectangular slot in 'which the members carrying the knife blade 13 and the folding plates 14 and 15 are both slidably mounted. The slot is constructed in the head by forming a rectangularrecess in the terminal portion of the arm 11, and securing thereto a plate 38 as by means of screws 89 to form the rectangular slot 40.

Snugly fitted in the slot 40 is mounted a sliding carriage 41. As shown in Fig. 8, this carriage is formed as a hollow rectangular box, open at thetop and at one side. A portion of each side of the bottom 15 of the sliding member is cut away to receive one of the folding plates 14 and 15 so that their outer edges will be flush with the outer surfaces of the carriage. These plates may be secured in position by screws 16, orany other securing means. The closed side 47 of the carriage is provided with a threaded aperture 48 to receive a pin 19 to be later referred to.

VVithi'n the hollow sliding member, shown in Fig. 8, is mounted a second sliding member indicated generally at 50, and shown in perspective in Fig. 9. A vertical groove 53 is cut in one rear corner of the block to receive the spring 54 secured inside the sliding member as by means of a screw 55. This arrangement holds the parts snugly in position and tendsfor a very smooth operaation. The upper part ofthe member 50 is a solid rectangular block having a lower inte'gral extension 57 which is shaped at its lower end 'to form or receive the reciprocating knife 13. One face 58 of the block 50 is provided with a threaded aperture 59 to receive a pin 61 similar to the pin 49, and also to be later described in detail.

The parts shown in Figs. 8 and 9 are assembled in the head of the machine by first inserting the'block 5O inside the carriage 4:1 with the spring 54 engaging the slot 53.

'The two elements are then inserted in the rectangular slot 40, and the plate 38 is secured to the side of the head 12 The presser blocks 18and 19 are'grooved to receive the guide member 16, and are fslidably mounted thereon at either side of the stationary block 35 which carries the fixed knife 17. Each of these blocks is recessed at its rear portion as at '65. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, these recesses freely receive the ends of levers 66 and 67 respectively, which are pivotally connected to the blocks by means of pins 68. These levers the sliding carriage 4-1, and through the slot 75, and engages the walls of the elongated aperture 76 formed in the end of a lever 77, fulcrumed on a screw 78 secured to the side of the bearing arm 11. This arrangement permits the oscillation the lever 77 about its pivot 78 in a vertical plane.

The plate 38 on the other side of the head is provided with a slot similar to the slot through which the pin 61, which is threaded in the aperture 59, projects. This pin61 ex tends outwardly to be received in an elongated s'lotforined in the end of a lever 80 similar to the slot 76. This lever is also fulcrumed on a screw such as 78, and permitted to oscillate in a vertical plane. Near their rear ends the levers 77 and 80 have laterally extending lugs 82 and 83 rcspe L tively, carrying rollers 84.- and 85, constituting followers for the cams 86 and 87.

Intermediate the bearings 24 and 25, the

shaft 26 has keyed thereto a camdevice for operating the mechanism of the machine. This cam has a peripheral track 86 which engages'the roller84, and another peripheral track 87 upon which the roller rides. These tracks have substantially circular high point dwell portions89 and 90 respectively. The high point dwell of each peripheral cam is substantially ninety degrees, with a sudden drop as at .91 and 92 "respectively, followed by a low point circular dwell'portion 93 and 9%, an'da gradual lift 95 and 86 through the remaining ninety degrees to the high portion 89 and 90. The rollcrs8 1 and 85 are yieldingly held against their respective cams by springs and 101, which are secured to the ends of the respective levers and anchored to the base by pins 102.

Each side of the cam deviceis substantial ly flat, but provided with bumper cams and 106 respectively. These bumper'cams A spring 107, connecting these levers, serves to normally hold the rollers in engagement with the faces of the cam. By this arrangement, at low point dwell for aportion of each revolution is provided, with a sudden high device just described, the lever 80. operates the reciprocating knife 13, the lever 77 operates the folding plates 14 and 15 and. the levers 66 and 67 respectively, operate the presser blocks 18 and 19.

The clutch for operating the shaft from the free pulley 31 isshown in detail 1n Flgs. 3, 4 and A rectangular block 110 is keyed to the shaft 26, and a yoke 111 is pivoted to each side of the rectangular block- Movement of the yoke in one direction is limited by a projection 112, and a leaf spring 113 normally urges it in the other direction. The free pulley 31 is provided with laterally projecting spaced pins 114 with which the yoke 111 normally engages when urged outwardly bythe spring 113. v i

The rear end of the machine base is provided with an upward extension 120, at the upper end of which is pivoted a curved lever 121 as by a bolt 122. Referring to Figs. 2and4, thelever 121 has the same curvature as the free pulley 31. As shown in Fig. 1, the end of the lever is tapered as at 124, that when the lever is in its lowcred position the top of the yoke 111' will ride thereover and be moved back against the action of the spring 113. At about the center of the curved portion is formed a slot 125-which will receive the top of the yoke and hold itin position free of the pins 114.

The other arm 126 ofthe lever is provided with a link 127 by means of which the lever may be connected to an operating pedal (not shown).

In operation, when the pulley 31 is driven from an external source of power, the clutch lever 1.21 is'norm'all-y in the position shown in full line in Fig. l. Vhen the operating pedal is depressed, the lever is raised -per mitting the spring 113 to urge the top of the yoke 111 into contact with the pins 114:

on the driven pulley 31. Power will thereby be applied to drive the'shaft 26.

As the shaft revolves, the raised incline 96 of the cam surface 89 will elevate the roller and cause the front end of the lever 80 to be depressed. The pin 61 carried by the lever 80 will drive the block downward and cause the blade 13 carried thereby to coact with the fixed knife blade 17 and sever the tag. Then the high part 89 of the cam 86 will raise the roller 84 which willcause the front end of the lever 77 to lower the pin 49 carried thereby, and will drive the sliding carriage 41 downward, so that the folding plates 14 and 15'will be operated.

It will be evident from Fig. 1 that the bumper cams 105 and 106 engaging the ro1lers 72 and 73 will cause the presser blocks 18 and 19 to move toward each other. The cam device is so timed thatthe roller 84 'riocs off the high part 89 of the cam 86 just as the side bumper lugs 105 and 106 come into contact with the rollers 73 and 7 1-, which operate the presser blocks.

A reference to Figure 6, which shows the presser blocks 18 and 19 extended to their maximum, will indicate when a tag is cut by the action of the stationary and movable knives that the severed portions of the tape will rest on the block 35 which carries the stationary knife while the main portions of the tape and the severed tag will rest on the. presser blocks. Immediately after the cutting thefolder plates 14, 15 move downwardly. They cooperate with the edges of the presser blocks to fold the severed ends of the. tag and tape into the slots between the" presser blocks and the knife-holding block 35. These ends are of such length that they will, by the resilience of the material, press inwardly against the sides of theblock 35 and thus be held in the slot even after the withdrawal of the folder plates. Immediately upon the' withdrawal of the folder plates the presser blocks move in-- wardly carrying with them the severed ends of the tape and tag so that the turned down ends thereof are pressed between the vertical faces of the presser blocks and the vertical sides of the knife-carrying block 35. The top surface of this knife-carrying block is higher than the top surfaces of the presser blocks and there are wings arranged laterally thereon, under which the top surfaces of the presser'blocks can just pass. When the pressing operation takes place the material of the tag and tape is pressed between the under surface of a wing and the upper surface of a presser block as well as between the vertical faces of the presser block and knife block. This insures the folding of a sharp crease in the fabric as a result of placing both sides of the crease against right angled faces of the presser block. The action of the upper face of the presser block and the under face of the wing is almost a shearing one to insure an extremely sharp crease.

' \Vith the cam device so timed, it will be apparent with reference to F 6, that b the operation just described the folding plates 14 and 15 will be in the lowered position. Just as these are raised, the presser blocks 18 and 19 move against the block 35, and press the crease which has been partly formed by the folding plates. As soon as the bumper cams 105 and 106 ride clear of the presser block rollers 72 and 73, the blocks 18 and 19 are immediately separated. The tip of the yoke 111 will then engage the point- 124 of the curved lever, and will ride along the tapered surface thereof until it is free of the pins 114 and will lodge in theslet 125, which will prevent further operation until the clutch lever is again tripped;

To "use the 'machine, the operator will therefore locate the end of the continuous tape so that the knife blade is positioned between two adjacent designs, or at such point as it is desired to cut the tape. He will then depress the operating pedal and the machine will sever the tape, and foldover the severed, as well as the unsevered ends ofthe tape in one operation. Then hewill move the tape; on to either the division line between theuntinished tag and the next, or to such place ashe desires tocut, if a plain tag, and again depress the pedal. The machine-will then complete the unfinished tag and start the manufacture of the next succeeding tag. The operation of the machine,

therefore, is independent of the dimension of the tag, hence by this machine and process, tags of any des1red dimension may be cut and folded.

-While one embodiment of the invention has been described in such detail that anyone skilled. in the art may readily construct the saine, the specific details given are in- -tended in a descriptive, and not in a limiting sense.- The invention, therefore, is not limited to the embodiment shown but 1ncludes such modifications as come within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1.- :A machine for cutting and forming tags from a tape, comprising in, combination, a base, an arm thereon having a head, a reciprocating knife mounted in said head, a

' stationaryknifc mounted on said base to cooperate therewith, blocks on each side of said stationary knife, folding plates in said head cooperating with said blocks, a shaft journaled on said base, and means thereon foroperating said reciprocating knife and folding plates.

2. A machine for cutting and forming tags from atape, comprising in combination, a base, an armthereonhaving a head, a reciprocating knife mounted in said head, a stationary knife mounted on said base to cooperate therewith, shoulders on each side of said stationary knife, folding plates on said head adapted to pass beside sale. shoulders,

presser blocks-slidably mounted on said base for movement to and from said shoulders,

. and means for operating said'reciproeating knife, folding plates, and presser blocks.

3.. A machine for cutting and forming tags from a tape, comprising in combination, a frame, a head mounted thereon, a reciprocating knife mounted in said head, folding plates mounted on each side of said knife, a base, a stationary knife mounted-thereon to cooperate with said reciprocating knife, shoulders on each side of said stationary knife, and a pressing block movably mounted at each side of the stationary knife for cooperation with the shoulder 4:. A machine for forming tags from a tape, comprising in combination, a base, a stationary knife, a shoulder on one side thereof, a reciprocating knife mounted to cooperate with said stationary knife, a folding plate adapted to pass by said shoulder, and a presser block mounted on said base to slide to and from said shoulder, and means operated in timed relation to said knife for moving said folding plate between said shoulder and block, and withdrawing it as the block moves toward said shoulder.

5. A machine for cutting and folding tags from a tape including in combination, a base, a head supported above said base, a stationary knife on said base, a reciprocatory knife in said head adapted to cooperate therewith, apresserblock on each side of said stationary knife, a folding plate movable in said head to cooperate with each block, an abutmenton each side of said stationary knife and means to'move'said blocks int-0 cooperation with said abutments.

6. A machine for cutting and folding tags from a tape including in combination, a base,

a stationary knife thereon, a carrier for said knife having laterally overhanging wings, a head, a movableknife carried by said head, a presser block on each side of said carrier and each movable beneath one of said wings, a pair of folding plates supported in said head for movement to cooperate with said blocks when separated from said wings and means to first move said knife, then said folding plates and then said presser blocks for-the purpose described 7. A tag folding mechanism comprising an abutment having an overhanging wing, a presser block normally spaced therefrom, a folding blade adapted to fold a'tape over the edge of said block and means to move said block and tape against said abutment and in cooperative relation to said wing to crease the tape.

. In testimony whereof .I hereunto afiix my signature.

S ILAS E. BAILEY. 

